Heddle bar support



March 27, 1956 F. M. SUCHKE 2,739,617

HEDDLE BAR SUPPORT Filed OCT,- 51, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l e I k 2- 0 Z3 :3; INVENTOR T FREDERICK M.SUCHKE BY fig ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 F. M. SUCHKE HEDDLE BAR SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORNEY LO (0 (Q FREDERICK M, SUCHKE w HEDDLE BAR SUPPORT Frederick M. Suchke, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Pioneer Hetldle and Reed Company, Incorporated, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application October 31, 1952, Serial No. 318,117 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-92) The present invention relates to improvements in loom harness and more particularly to heddle frames and their associated parts whereby a plurality of heddles are suitably carried and supported within the frame.

Heddle frames are commonly fashioned with top and bottom rails of wood with the end pieces fashioned of metal with metallic heddle bars supported at their ends in the end pieces. The heddles, usually metallic, provided with suitable closed eyes are supported by the heddle bars.

As these heddle frames increase in length there is a tendency of the wooden rails to bow in a vertical plane out of a normal straight and horizontal position due to the load imposed by the actuating mechanism and under the rapid reciprocation of the frame and usually acquire a set in a bowed position. The upper wooden rail will bow upwardly and the lower rail downwardly. This bowing of the wooden rails ordinarily would stress or bow the heddle bars but to prevent bowing one or more brackets are employed and these are adjustably connected to the wooden rails and the heddle bars intermediate their ends by which the latter may be maintained substantially straight despite the tendency of the rail to bow. A construction of this type however prevents a complete floating or lateral movement of closed eye heddles upon the heddle bars throughout the length of the frame because the bracket acts as a stop and thereby limits the heddle movement.

Similarly, the provision of one or more auxiliary bars short or limited in length usually located between the wooden rail and the heddle bar with one or more hooks or supports interposed between the auxiliary bar and heddle bar and movable in respect thereto has been suggested but in structures of this type there is always present a limitation or stop due to the presence of the hook imposed upon the free sliding or horizontal travel of the closed eye heddle upon the heddle bar throughout the length of the latter. The limitations above described at times result in a breaking of the heddles or the breaking of the warp threads with the consequent stoppage of the loom for repairs.

One of the objects of the present invention is to avoid the undesirable factors above explained and to provide a means for maintaining a heddle bar straight, despite any tendency of the heddle bar or wooden rail to bow and at the same time provide for an unlimited or unre strained movement of closed eye heddles throughout the length of the heddle bar despite the presence of a hook or support arranged between the heddle bar and the'auxiliary bar.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a hook or support arranged freely to travel from end to end of the heddle frame along an auxiliary bar subject to the dimensions of the hook and past any supporting connections between that bar and the wooden rail thereby permitting the heddles freely to slide upon 2,739,617 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 and find their place or permit them to be moved along the heddle bar substantially throughout the length thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hook or support having its bearing surfaces so located and constructed as to avoid, as far as possible, friction and pinching thereby aiding free travel of the hook upon the auxiliary bar and especially throughout the length of the bar where the same is extended in length and the likelihood of a slight bowing of either the auxiliary bar or heddle bar or both is present. it will be noted that while the auxiliary bar and heddle bar may be set or adjusted to occupy the desired or parallel relation when the heddle frame is stationary there is a slight momentary flexing of one or both bars upon the sudden reversal of direction of movement of the heddle frame during operation and at this time there is a tendency of the hook or support to bind or pinch on the rods and thereby arrest free movement of the heddles alon the bar as the heddles attempt to find their true operating position with respect to the individual warp thread passing through each heddle.

To accomplish the foregoing the invention contemplates broadly the provision of a heddle frame having the usual wooden top and bottom rails and metallic end pieces attached to the wooden rails. Auxiliary bars are carried by the end pieces of the frame spaced from and inwardly of the wooden rails. One or more bracke capable of adjustment are arranged between the rails and the adjacent auxiliary bars so as to maintain the auxiliary bars straight despite any tendency of either of them to bow. The brackets supporting the auxiliary bars are attached thereto in such a manner as to permit the passage of one or more properly shaped hooks to slide along and pass one or more of the brackets as the case may be and thus traverse the entire length of the auxiliary bar subject of course to the dimensions of the hook. The lower ends of these hooks are fashioned to support the heddle bars intermediate their ends and.

to slide along the heddle bars substantially throughout their length as in the case of the auxiliary bars. The heddle bar hooks or supports as herein disclosed are generally T-shaped in form having horizontal and vertical legs with the horizontal legs fashioned to provide widely spaced bearing surfaces of minimum area and the vertical leg provided with openings and bearing surfaces to receive the auxiliary bar and at the same time permit the hook to pass one or more brackets attached to the auxiliary bar. The construction above described lends itself admirably to the use of closed eye metallic heddles which have been used extensively in the art for many years.

For a more detailed description of the invention, refrence will noW be had to the accompanying drawings wherein corresponding parts are identified by corresponding marks of reference and wherein- Fig. 1 is a side view of a heddle frame, partly broken away showing the incorporation of the invention therein. I Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the upper part of the heddle frame.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side view of one form of the heddle bar hook or support.

Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the presence of a heddle bar hook or support of different construction.

Fig. 10 is an end view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the horizontal leg of the hook.

In Figs. 1 and 7 there is shown a common form of heddle frame consisting of top and bottom wooden rails 1 and dual end pieces 2, the terminal portions of which are bent at right angles to secure the ends of the wooden rails in the desired position. The end pieces 2 are slotted to carry the usual heddle bars 3 which are detachably secured in the frame by the spring clips 4 carried by the end pieces entering openings 5 at the opposite ends of the bars. Metallic heddles 6 are carried by the heddle bars 3. The foregoing construction is old and well known in the art.

Since the upper and lower sections of the heddle frame and the parts associated therewith are identical but assume reversed positions, it will sufiice to describe the invention with relation to the upper half or section of the heddle frame.

Between the wooden rail 1 and the adjacent heddle bar 3 and spaced from each of them there is positioned an auxiliary bar 7 which extends continuously throughout the length of the frame with each end of the bar carried in the end pieces 2. This auxiliary bar is supported intermediate the ends by one or more brackets 8 adjustably connected to the wooden rail by the screws 10 entering the rail. Raising or lowering of the screws 10 and shimming the bracket will serve to adjust the auxiliary bar 7 to lie in a straight line despite any bowing of the wooden rails which is apt to occur in frames of substantial length. Other suitable means for adjusting the bracket may be employed. Preferably the wooden rail is rabbeted to maintain the outer face of the bracket flush with the side surface of the rail thus avoiding surfaces or edges which might catch lint or other deleterious material. The slot 11 in the bracket and screw 12 serve to maintain the bracket within the rabbet in any adjusted position of the bracket.

The bracket 8 extends inwardly in a substantially vertical plane and to one side of the plane of the auxiliary bar 7 and the lower end of each bracket is attached to one face or side of the auxiliary bar intermediate its outer and inner edges by employing a spacer 13 and rivets 14, see Figs. 3 and 8. Other means may be employed to secure the bracket to the auxiliary bar, care being taken to effect the union in such a way as to permit the heddle bar hook or support hereafter described to pass the zone of connection in any phase of its travel along the auxiliary and heddle bars.

The heddle bar hook or support designated generally 15 which is carried by the auxiliary bar may take the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6. There the hook is provided with a horizontal leg 16 the inner surface of which supported above and out of contact throughout its length with the outer edge of adjacent the ends thereof where the horizontal leg is curved downwardly and then upwardly to establish point contacts 17 at widely spaced intervals with the outer edge of the bar "I. The horizontal leg 16 is united to the vertical leg 18 of the hook and the latter may be fashioned from a stamping bent upon itself in the form shown in Fig. 4 wherein the outer portions or sections 20 are spaced apart and the inner sections 21 thereof brought together and united, for example, by spot welding.

The spaced sections 29 at the outer end of the vertical leg hook are a continuation of the horizontal section 22 of the hook and the outer surface of this section 22 is positioned beyond the outer edge of the auxiliary bar 7. The horizontal leg 16 of the hook is spot welded, fused or otherwise fastened to the section 22 as indicated at 23.

The horizontal leg 16 may be recessed at its central portion accurately to fit the horizontal section 22 as shown in Fig. 4. This type of connection aids the strength of the union of the horizontal and vertical legs and serves to position accurately the contact points 17 at equal disthe auxiliary bar 7 except at points 4 tances from the vertical leg during the manufacture of the hook.

One edge of the hook in the region of the spaced sec tions 20 is bifurcated to form a T-shaped slot 24 having the vertical part 25 and the horizontal part 26. The dimensions of the vertical part 25 of the slot should be such as to provide for easy sliding of the hook along the auxiliary bar 7 and the dimensions of the horizontal part 26 of the slot should be such that the hook, when moved longitudinally along the auxiliary bar will clear the spacer 13 or other means of connection joining the auxiliary bar 7 to the bracket 8. The lugs 27 which define the horizontal part of the slot overlie in part a side surface of the auxiliary bar as shown in Fig. 3 and serve to restrain when necessary the hook against transverse displacement. The arrangement above described assures absence of contact of the horizontal leg 16 of the hook with the auxiliary bar except at the ends of the horizontal leg, where a small area of contact is present, thus reducing friction to a minimum. The wide spacing of the curved contact points 17 of the horizontal leg of the hook serve to minimize any tendency of the hook to bind or pinch in its travel upon the auxiliary bar and especially if that bar be slightly bowed out of its desired straight line position.

Figs. 7 to 11 show the use of a slightly modified form of support or hook for the heddle bar. Here the vertical leg 28 of the hook 15 is fashioned the same as in Fig. 4 with the horizontal leg 30 positioned beyond and clear of the outer edge of the auxiliary bar 7 except at its ends. The horizontal leg 30 of the hook is connected to the vertical leg 28 in the same manner as shown and described in connection with Fig. 4. The ends of the horizontal leg 39 are turned inwardly a short distance to form the vertical parts 31 which are bifurcated as at 32 to provide bearing surfaces of limited or small area for contact with the top edge of the auxiliary bar 7. The short vertical end parts 31 which bound the bifurcations 32 provide bearing surfaces of small area to restrain any tendency of the hook or support to twist or turn transversely of the auxiliary and heddle bars. The hook or support of Figs. 7 to 11 is free to move longitudinally of the auxiliary and heddle bars throughout their length and without impediment past the brackets 8 in the same manner as the hook shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

The inner ends of the hooks of Figs. 5 and 10 are provided with openings 33 extending through one edge of the hook for the ready reception, maintenance and removal of the heddle bar.

It has been found, if the contact points of the horizontal leg be spaced a distance equal or substantially equal to the length of the vertical leg, that the friction of the support with the auxiliary bar is reduced to a minimum and to a point where binding or pinching of the support is not apt to occur under stationary or operat ng conditions of the heddle frame.

Since the arrangement herein described permits the free and unrestrained movement or travel of one or more of the hooks employed throughout the length of the auxil- 1ary and heddle bars with a minimum of friction the bed dles are free to move and assume their individual operatmg positions in connection with their individual warp threads and in so doing are not impeded by the heddle bar hooks which are free likewise to slide or move in response to any lateral heddle movement.

The ability to move the heddle bar hooks throughout the lengths of the auxiliary and heddle bars furnishes an mportant advantage over those types of hooks which are mmovable or are limited to a short range of movement, in removing the heddles or the heddle bars with the heddles thereon from the frame. To accomplish this all that is necessary is to slide the heddle bar hooks or supports along the auxiliary bars toward one or opposite ends of the auxiliary bar, release the end clips of the heddle bar, grasp the heddle bar at or adjacent its central part and bow it transversely of the frame until the ends of the heddle bars move inwardly and clear the end pieces. Thus broken heddles may be quickly withdrawn from and replaced in the frame. In the case of stationary supports or supports restricted to short movements it is many times necessary to dismount the hooks and/or their supporting structure thereby occasioning loss of time and production.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a heddle frame including horizontal rails, end pieces attached to said rails and heddle bars spaced from said rails and carried by said end pieces, of an auxiliary bar located between and spaced from each of said rails and the adjacent heddle bar extending throughout the length of the heddle frame with its opposite ends supported by said end pieces, a bracket adjustably carried by each of said rails between said end pieces having one end attached to a limited portion of a side face of the auxiliary bar leaving remaining portions of said side face in the vertical plane of the zone of attachment free and unobstructed and a heddle bar support having an inner end and an outer horizontal leg with the inner end shaped to provide an open hook for detachable engagement with the adjacent heddle bar and another portion shaped to provide a T-shaped opening for the reception of the auxiliary bar and to allow passage of the hook past the zone of attachment of said bracket to said auxiliary bar and bearing surfaces of minimum area formed at the opposite ends of the horizontal leg for sliding contact with the outer edge of said auxiliary bar with the intermediate portions of the horizontal leg out of contact with said outer edge of the auxiliary bar whereby said heddle bar support may be moved freely from one end to the other of the auxiliary bar and the adjacent heddle bar.

2. The combination with a heddle frame including horizontal rails, end pieces attached to said rails and heddle bars spaced from said rails and carried by said end pieces, of an auxiliary bar located between and spaced from each of said rails and the adjacent heddle bar extending throughout the length of the heddle frame with its opposite ends supported by said end pieces, at least one bracket adjustably carried by each of said rails having one end attached to a limited portion of a side face of the auxiliary bar leaving remaining portions of said side face in the vertical plane of the zone of attachment free and unobstructed, and a heddle bar support having a vertical leg shaped at its inner end to provide an open hook for detachable engagement with the adjacent heddle bar and a portion shaped to provide a T-shaped opening for the reception of the auxiliary bar and to allow passage of the support past the zone of attachment of said bracket to said auxiliary bar and a horizontal leg having an inner face surmounting said vertical leg and spaced above the outer edge of said auxiliary bar having its opposite ends extending inwardly to provide bearing points of minimum area with the outer edge of said auxiliary bar with the intermediate portions of the horizontal leg out of contact with said outer edge of the auxiliary bar, whereby said heddle bar support may be moved freely from one end to the other of the auxiliary bar and the adjacent heddle bar.

3. The combination with a heddle frame including horizontal rails, end pieces attached to said rails and heddle bars spaced from said rails and carried by said end pieces, of an auxiliary bar located between and spaced from each of said rails and the adjacent heddle bar extending throughout the length of the heddle frame with its opposite ends supported by said end pieces, a bracket adjustably carried by each of said rails along one side thereof and extending inwardly out of the plane of the auxiliary bar and having one end attached to a limited portion of a side face of the auxiliary bar leaving remaining portions of said side face in the vertical plane of the zone of attachment free and unobstructed, a heddle bar support having an inner end and an outer horizontal leg with the inner end shaped to provide an open hook for detachable engagemeat with the adjacent heddle bar and another portion shaped to provide a T-shaped opening for the reception of the auxiliary bar and to allow passage of the hook past the zone of attachment of said bracket to said auxiliary bar and widely spaced bearing surfaces of minimum area formed on the horizontal leg adjacent the outer ends thereof for sliding contact with the outer edge of said auxiliary bar with the intermediate portions of the horizontal leg out of contact with said outer edge of the auxiliary bar, whereby said heddle bar support may be moved freely from one end to the other of the auxiliary bar and the adjacent heddle bar.

4. The combination with a heddle frame including horizontal rails, end pieces attached to said rails and heddle bars spaced from said rails and carried by said end pieces, of an auxiliary bar located between and spaced from each of said rails and the adjacent heddle bar extending throughout the length of the heddle frame with its opposite ends supported by said end pieces, at least one bracket adjustably carried by each of said rails having one end attached to a limited portion of a side face of the auxiliary bar leaving remaining portions of said side face in the vertical plane of the zone of attachment free and unobstructed, and a heddle bar support having a vertical leg shaped at its inner end to provide an open hook for detachable engagement with the adjacent heddle bar and a portion shaped to provide a T-shaped opening for the reception of the auxiliary bar and to allow passage of the support past the zone of attachment of said bracket to said auxiliary bar and a horizontal leg having an inner face surmounting said vertical leg and spaced above the outer edge of said auxiliary bar with its opposite ends curved inwardly and outwardly to provide bearing points of minimum area with the outer edge only of said auxiliary bar with the intermediate portions of the horizontal leg out of contact with said outer edge of the auxiliary bar, whereby said heddle bar support may be moved freely from one end to the other of the auxiliary bar and the adjacent heddle bar.

5. The combination with a heddle frame including horizontal rails, end pieces attached to said rails and heddle bars spaced from said rails and carried by said end pieces, of an auxiliary bar located between and spaced from each of said rails and the adjacent heddle bar extending throughout the length of the heddle frame with its opposite ends supported by said end pieces, at least one bracket adjustably carried by each of said rails having one end attached to a limited portion of a side face of the auxiliary bar leaving remaining portions of said side face in the vertical plane of the zone of attachment free and unobstructed, and a heddle bar support having a vertical leg shaped at its inner end to provide an open hook for detachable engagement with the adjacent heddle bar and a portion shaped to provide a T-shaped opening for the reception of the auxiliary bar and to allow passage of the support past the zone of attachment of said bracket to said auxiliary bar and a horizontal leg surmounting said vertical leg and spaced above the outer edge of said auxiliary bar having its opposite ends bifurcated and curved inwardly to provide bearing points of minimum area with the outer edge of said auxiliary bar with the intermediate portions of the horizontal leg out of contact with said outer edge of the auxiliary bar, and guiding surfaces of small area engageable with outer portions of the free and unobstructed sides of said auxiliary bar whereby said heddle bar support may be moved freely from one end to the other of the auxiliary bar and the adjacent heddle bar.

6. The combination with a heddle frame including horizontal rails, end pieces attached to said rails and heddle bars spaced from said rails and carried by said end pieces, of an auxiliary bar located between and spaced from each of said rails and the adjacent heddle bar extending throughout the length of the heddle frame with its opposite ends supported by said end pieces, at

least one bracket adjustably carried by each of said rails having one end attached to a limited portion of a side face of the auxiliary bar leaving remaining portions of said face in the vertical plane of the zone of attachment free and unobstructed, and a heddle bar support having a vertical leg fashioned from a continuous strip and bent at its outer portion to provide spaced sections united by an outer horizontal section, said sections inwardly of their spacing being bent toward each other and united to form an inner terminal portion of said support provided With an opening for the reception of the heddle bar, said sections in the region of their spacing being shaped to provide a T-shaped opening for the reception of the auxiliary'bar and to allow passage of the support past the zone of attachment of said bracket to said auxiliary bar and a horizontal leg provided with a central recess surrnounting said outer horizontal section of the vertical References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,511 Kaufmann July 14, 1936 2,386,690 Kaufmann Oct. 9, 1945 2,472,772 Kaufmann June 7, 1949 2,625,958 Kaufmann J an. 20, 1953 2,634,762 Consoletti Apr. 14, 1953 2,634,763 Consoletti Apr. 14, 1953 Q Nu 

